Sliding closure assembly

ABSTRACT

A door mounted on broad S-curved rods with linear bearings for sliding lateral movement to opened and closed positions. Brackets secured to the door are pivotally connected to the linear bearings to allow the door to swing away from the door frame so the door clears the door frame as it is laterally moved. A link is pivoted to the door and a movable body to support one side of the door and allow limited swinging movement of the door. The rods and linear bearings are located in an elongated channel in an elongated support.

United States Patent 11 1 Krein Aug. 26, 1975 l l SLIDING CLOSUREASSEMBLY [76] lnventorz Reuben J. Krein, 2319 N. Shore Dr., Clear Lake,Iowa 50428 [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No; 430,231

52 US. (:1 49/214; 49/215 51 1111. C1.'-' EOSD 15/10 [58 Field 01 Search49/213-215 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,055.96) 3/1913Ellis 49/214 3,230,585 1/1966 Marsh 1 49/214 3 453 778 7/1969Dau'girdas... .f-49/215 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey 5 7 ABSTRACT Adoor mounted on broad S-curved rods with linear bearings for slidinglateral movement to opened and closed positions. Brackets secured to thedoor are pivotally connected to the linear bearings to allow the door toswing away from the door frame'so the door clears the door frame as itis laterally moved. A link is pivoted to the door and a movable body tosupport one side of the door and allow limited swinging movement of thedoor. The rods and linear bearings are located in an elongated channelin an elongated support.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures J l ?v SLIDING CLOSURE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Laterally movable doors are conventionally supportedwith hangers from elongated horizontal tracks. The tracks extend intothe wall adjacent the door opening so that the door can be movedlaterally into a space within the wall. The requires separate wallconstruction and a wall having sufficient thickness to accommodate thedoor. In some door arrangements the tracks extend adjacent the outsideof the wall whereby the door moves laterally close to one side of thewall. Examples of laterally movable door structures are shown in US.Pat. Nos. 1,126,241; 2,876,504 and 3,100,667.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention is directed to a swingable slidingclosure assembly for closing an opening in a structure, as a wall, carbody, cabinet or the like. The closure assembly has door meansselectively movable to a first position to close the opening in thestructure and movable from the first position to a second position toopen the opening, providing access through the opening. The door meansis movably supported with separate guide and support assemblies. Firstand second guide and support assemblies cooperate with each other topermit the door means to pivot outwardly from the opening in thestructure and move along the guide and support assemblies. Each guideand support assembly has rod means extended across the opening. Guidemeans slidably mounted on the rod means are connected to the door meanswith pivot means. The pivot means have axes generally normal to the axisof the rod means so that the door means can swing toward and away fromthe rod means or into and out of the opening. A third guide and supportassembly includes linkage structure which connects the door means with alaterally movable slide. The linkage structure permits the door means tohave limited swinging movement about the axes of the pivot means.

An object of the invention is to provide a sliding door system which hasa door that can be laterally moved to an open position using a minimumof space in front of the door opening. A further object of the inventionis to provide a support and pivot structure for a laterally moving doorwhich has a balanced distribution of load and can carry a relativelyheavy door with a minimum of deflection on the support structure for thedoor. Another object of the invention is to provide a support andpivoting structure for a laterally moving door which includes anenclosed rod and guide movably mounted on the rod.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a structurehaving the swingable sliding door assembly of the invention showing thedoor in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing the door in theopen position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the doorassembly in the full open position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. land 2, thereis shown a structure indicated generally at 10, as an upright wall,cabinet, body of a vehicle, or the like. Structure 10 has an opening 1 1which canbe closed with a swingable sliding closure or door indicatedgenerally at 12. Door 12 comprises a generally rectangular flat panel ofa size to fit into the opening 11. The panel can be laminated structure,a solid sheet member, or a hollow panel assembly. The size and shape ofthe opening 11 and door 12 can vary. Door 12 has a handle 41 used tofacilitate opening and closing the door.

The swingable sliding door 12 is supported for lateral movement onfirst, second and third guide and support assemblies indicated generallyat 13, 14 and 15. The first and second guide and support assemblies 13and 14 are identical in construction and are located adjacent the topand bottom edges of the opening 11. The guide and support assemblies 13,14 and 15 support the door in a balanced manner so that it can be easilymoved from a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, to an open position,as shown in FIG. 2. An equal amount of the weight of door 12 is carriedon each guide and support assembly.

The door assembly 12 is ass ciated with structure 10 having upright sidemembers 16 and 17. Side members 16 and 17 extend upward adjacentopposite sides of opening 11 and are joined to a generally horizontalbase ,or sill l8 and a generally horizontal top 19.

The first and second guide and support assemblies 13 and 14 areidentical in construction. The following description is limited to guideassembly 14 extended across the bottom of opening 11 adjacent the sill'18. The top assembly 13 extends across the top of the opening adjacentthe top 19. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, guide and support assembly 14comprises an elongated broadly S-curved rod or rail 21 having a firstend extended through an opening in side member 16. A nut 22 threadedonto the end of rod 21 holds the rod in assembled relation with the sidemember 16. In a similar manner, the opposite end of rod 21 extendsthrough a hole in side member 17. A nut 23 threaded on the end of rod 21holds the rod in assembled relation with support 17. An inwardlyextended bracket 24 is attached to the inside of the right side of doorassembly 12 with a plurality of fasteners 26. Bracket 24 has a lengthwhich will hold the door 12 closed and permit the door to open as setforth hereinafter. Slidably mounted on rod 21' is a linear sleevebearing 27 having a low friction cylindrical sleeve 28 in slidingengagement with rod 21. The bearing 27 has an car 29 located adjacentthe end of bracket 24. A pivot pin 31 extends through aligned holes inbracket 24 and ear 29 to pivotally connect the bracket 24 to the bearing27. The axis of pivot pin 31 member 17. it e r Uprightjside-member 17has an step or recess 32 for accommodating a comer of the door assembly12', as shown iri" FlGig flracket 24 has a length so that when thedoorIZ'isintheclosed position, the door fits 'ihto the recess32f' Asshown in Pros. 3, 4 ,17 and 8,"the third guide and support asser r'iblycomprises a pair of generally horizontal rods 34 and. 36 h avinginwardly'turned 'nds at- 10:0ther connectingineans can be used t o attach'the"gu'iderods '34 and 36 to the ycture 10. Slidably moiintedon guide rods34 an 36tis a body- 39.

jeeted upwafd'ly'frombody 39 is a first arm 42 attached tolinearsleeve"bearihg".43.-- Bearing "413 is 'slidably mountedon r p erguide redswA seee f-d' i n' 44ertends "downwardly: from body'39; Alinear sleeve bearmg 46 slidablymounte'd' on' rod 36'is attached to-the"lower end of the second arm-44IAs show ri in E1638,

3 a fastener connects the arm 44 to the body "39. The body 39 has anupright opening for accommodating the x arm 44. The fastener 45, shownas' a mitt andbol t-aissembly', extends throughsuitably aligned-holesiii the body 3 9 and'arm 44 to hold the arm:44 ini assembled grelationwith thebody 39 .Arm 44 eanbefirovide'd with a plurality of holes 44Awhereh iheerm '4-4 eehbe ad- 5 justably'rnounted on body 39."A-fastenerifr nilar t'o fas- J "tener' 45' isused toa'ttach'the first"arrn"42-to,, bod'y 39. 1 A- generally Zesha'pe'd link -47*piv otally connectsthe body 391mm door 212.- A hingeasse s secured-to door' l 2 with aplurality of faSteners 49 iiThe hinge plate alignment withthe end of arm57. Member 68 has a i 1 pair of outwardlyidireotedears 69 and 71. An endof The rod 61"a nd linear 'bearin'g"59 aree'oncealed in a generallyH-shaped support 63. The bottom of support 63 has alinear opening ormouth 64 through .which the finger 58 projects. The mouth 64 opens to anelongated channel or chamber 66'which provides space for rod61 and thelinear bearing 59. Structure 67, as a wall, is 10- cated between theupright flanges of the H-shaped support 63 and secured thereto 1 withsuitable fastening meansjsuch' as adhesives, rivets, bolts and the like.The

support" can form the top of the door opening. In a similar manner, thebottom or sill of the door can con- I .4 I stain a similar H-shapedsupport for concealing the botnuts, clamp the guide r,od s. 34 andi6 tothe structure I e s h guidef'rod.

4A m m er 68 is secured tothe inside of door '12 in 'armff57 is locatedbetween ears 69 and 71 A pivot pin 72, such as-a nut and bolt assembly,extends through 2 vertically'aligned holes in ears 69 and 71 and arm 57,ii therebypivotally moimtirig the door 12 for movement fabof'ut'afgenerally upright axis. I

In 'use, with the door 12 in'the "closed position, as

'sho wniin FlGf 1, the doorl2 is initially swung open '25 about theupright pivotal axes of the pivot pins 31. The

handle 4ifof the door 12 is used to pull the door outward. Tl1fe outwardpivoting of the door is limited by the pivotal length of link 47. Link47 pivots about the ixes of its upright ends 50 and 51 tothe extentshown I ihbroke n lines 3. This permits the left edge of wardly directedprojection or tingeriil"located in anupright hole 52irfbody 39.

' Side member 1 has an upright recess or groovei53 for accommodating theleft edge of door "12. The side members l6 and'l7 and top 19 can have acontinuous flush with theoutside' surface ofistruct'ure 1 Theside ofdoor 12 adjacent hingeplate 48 has a cutout or notc hj 54foraccommodating the bottom horizon tal portion'of link 47. As shown inFIG. 4;when

door 12 is in the open position; link 47 extends getterally transverseor normalto-the" plan'e'of the doorl The cation of the guide and supportstructure for the door 54. The 1114 47 positions thedoor' 12outwardlyofthe guide rods 34'and-36 to permit the door'to movela ter-'-=ally with respect to structure 10.

Referring to nos. 9 and 10, there 1s shewh e modifi- 12; indicatedgenerally at 56. Guide and supportist'ructure 56 slidably suppor ts theright side of the door 12..

and is 'used in' lieu of the first: and second guide arid siupr portmembers 1.3"and-14, A,

Guide and support structure 56 comprises an 57 having a generallyupright finger-'58." A line' ar sleeve bottom portion of the link 47extends through c ut' out ally, on. guide rods 4--and'36;

thefdooifto cleal jthe side member 16. Continued sidewaysf olr lateralmovem eht of the door l2 moves the ,door 'to' heh n open pesiheh, asshownin FIG. 4. The 1 linear sleeve;bearings 2 7 ride on ,rods 2l andsupport the mightsideof-doo'r} 1 2. Rods have minimum deflection as theweight of part of door 12 is evenly supported thereon; when the: door 12is in the open position, the brack 'et'arms 24 slpace thedoor away fromthe outside of thestructure In a similar manner, the link :spaces theleft side of the door from ,'the structure 10,,Link 47 rides on the body39. Body 39 moves later I The door is moved from the open position, asshown in .FIQ.;.,4,; to the closed-position shown in FIG, 3 byslidsinglthe/doorgto the right whereupon the linear sleeve ibearingsl2 7will follow the curvature of guide rods 21. .The body 39 will riiove;linearly relative to the guide 3 4. and 3,6. When door12 is in closedposition,

159 bracket armsj24 hold the door-"in groove 32. The link will permittheleft's ide-of the door to move into the green e53. Afs'uitable latch(not shown) can be used to ..ho.ld;door: 12, ih the closed p'osition.

The door 12 shown with the modified guide and sup- .t. port 56 pivotsabout-the upright axes of the pivot pins bearing "59 is secured to'thetop of finger SSE-A Breed.

S-curved rod or rail 61 similar to rod" 2l"'s'lid ably ports the bearing59. Bearing-59 hasa sleeve oflow 72 of the upper and lower guide andsupport as the door moves between its-open andclosed positions. Thelinear bearings 59 ride onthe generally S-shapd upper and lower rods 61.A third guide and support assembly (not-shown) siinilar'toassinblylSsupports the opposite side of the doors While therehave-been shown anddescribed pre ferred embodiments of th'ein'vention, it is understood.

that various changes. in the structure, location of structure, materialsand curvature and length of the, rods can :bernade by those skilled theart without departing from the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an enclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an opening in astructure comprising: door means movable to a first position to closethe opening in the structure and selectively movable from the firstposition to a second position to permit access through the opening inthe st i gj gtgre, means supporting said dpor means on Gasman bothsitlesof said door means for movement of the door slidably mounted on saidfirst rod, second guide means slidably mounted on said second rod, meansincluding pivot means connecting the first and secondguide means to oneside of the door means to support said-- one side of the door means,said pivot means having axes generally normal to the axes of the firstand second rods whereby the door means can swing toward and away fromthe first and second rods and move in the direction of the first andsecond rods, means supporting said door means also including slide meanslocated adjacent said door means allowing lateral movchaving space areelongated channel members, said channel members being of a size toaccommodate the first and second rods and first and second guide meansslidably mounted on the first and second rods.

8. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an opening in astructure having fixed members located on opposite sides of the openingcomprising: door means movable to a first position to close the openingin the structure and selectively movable from the first position to asecond position to permit access through the opening in the structure,rod means for supporting one side of the door means, said rod meansincluding a first rod extended transversely adjacent the top of theopening, said first rod having opposite ends supported by the fixedmembers, and a second rod located generally parallel to the first rodand extended transversely adjacent the bottom of the opening, saidsecond rod having opposite ends supported by the fixed members, guidemeans slidably mounted on said first and second rods, means includingpivot means connecting the guide means to one side of the door meanswhereby said rods support said one side of the door means, said pivotmeans having an axis generally normal to the axis of the rods wherebythe door means can swing toward and ment of the door means, rail meansmountedon the 7 structure at a vertical location approximately midwaybetween the first and second rods and extended generally parallel to thefirst and second rods, said rail means including a first horizontal railanda second horizontal rail extended generally parallel to the firstrail, said slide means including a body located between the first andsecond rails, arm means movably connecting the body to the first andsecond rails, and link means attached to the other side of the doormeans to connect the door means with the body to support the other sideof the door means and allow the door means to swing away from the rodmeans whereby the door means can be moved along the first and secondrods, said link means including a reverse curved member having anupright end pivotally mounted on the other side of the door means and adownwardly directed end pivotally mounted to the body.

2. The closure means of claim 1 wherein: said arm means connecting thebody to the first and second rails include sleeve bearings on the railsand arms connecting the sleeve bearings with the body.

3. The closure means of claim 1 wherein: the means connecting the guidemeans to the door means includes brackets secured to the door means.

4. The closure means of claim 3 wherein: the pivot means includesseparate pivots pivotally connecting the brackets to the guide means.

5. The closure means of claim 1 wherein: the guide means are linearbearings slidably mounted on the rod means.

6. The closure means of claim 1 including: means having space toaccommodate the rod means.

7. The closure means of claim 6 wherein: the means away from the firstand second rods and move in the direction of the first and second rods,slide means located the door means, rail means mounted on the structureand extended generally parallel to the first and second rods, said railmeans including a first rail and a second rail extended generallyparallel to the first rail, said slide means including a body locatedbetween the first and second rails, arm means movably connecting thebody to the first and second rails, and link means attached to the otherside of the door means to connect the door means with the body wherebythe rail means support the other side of the door means and, said linkmeans allowing the door means to swing away from the first rod and thesecond rod whereby the door means can be moved along the first andsecond rods from the closed position to the open position, said linkmeans including a reverse curved member having an upright end pivotallymounted on the other side of the door means and a downwardly directedend pivotally mounted on the body.

9. The closure means of claim 8 wherein: said means connecting the bodyto the first and second rails includes sleeve bearings on the rails andarms connecting the sleeve bearings with the body.

10. The closure means of claim 8 including: bracket means secured to thedoor means, said bracket means being attached to the pivot means.

11. The closure means of claim 8 wherein: the guide means are linearbearings slidably mounted on the first rod and second rod.

12. The closure means of claim 8 including: means having space toaccommodate the first rod andthe second rod.

13. The closure means of claim 12 wherein: the means having space areelongated channel members, said channel members being sized toaccommodate the first and second rods and guide means slidably mountedon the first and second rods.

1. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an opening in astructure comprising: door means movable to a first position to closethe opening in the structure and selectively movable from the firstposition to a second position to permit access through the opening inthe structure, means supporting said door means on both sides of saiddoor means for movement of the door means between said first positionand said second position, said means supporting said door meansincluding rod means extended across said opening, said rod meansincluding a first broad S-curved rod extended transversely adjacent thetop of the opening and mounted on the structure and a second broadS-curved rod located generally parallel to the first rod and extendedtransversely adjacent the bottom of the opening and mounted on thestructure, means connecting opposite ends of each rod to the structure,first guide means slidably mounted on said first rod, second guide meansslidably mounted on said second rod, means including pivot meansconnecting the first and second guide means to one side of the doormeans to support said one side of the door means, said pivot meanshaving axes generally normal to the axes of the first and second rodswhereby the door means can swing toward and away from the first andsecond rods and move in the direction of the first and second rods,means supporting said door means also including slide means locatedadjacent said door means allowing lateral movement of the door means,rail means mounted on the structure at a vertical location approximatelymidway between the first and second rods and extended generally parallelto the first and second rods, said rail means incluDing a firsthorizontal rail and a second horizontal rail extended generally parallelto the first rail, said slide means including a body located between thefirst and second rails, arm means movably connecting the body to thefirst and second rails, and link means attached to the other side of thedoor means to connect the door means with the body to support the otherside of the door means and allow the door means to swing away from therod means whereby the door means can be moved along the first and secondrods, said link means including a reverse curved member having anupright end pivotally mounted on the other side of the door means and adownwardly directed end pivotally mounted to the body.
 2. The closuremeans of claim 1 wherein: said arm means connecting the body to thefirst and second rails include sleeve bearings on the rails and armsconnecting the sleeve bearings with the body.
 3. The closure means ofclaim 1 wherein: the means connecting the guide means to the door meansincludes brackets secured to the door means.
 4. The closure means ofclaim 3 wherein: the pivot means includes separate pivots pivotallyconnecting the brackets to the guide means.
 5. The closure means ofclaim 1 wherein: the guide means are linear bearings slidably mounted onthe rod means.
 6. The closure means of claim 1 including: means havingspace to accommodate the rod means.
 7. The closure means of claim 6wherein: the means having space are elongated channel members, saidchannel members being of a size to accommodate the first and second rodsand first and second guide means slidably mounted on the first andsecond rods.
 8. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an openingin a structure having fixed members located on opposite sides of theopening comprising: door means movable to a first position to close theopening in the structure and selectively movable from the first positionto a second position to permit access through the opening in thestructure, rod means for supporting one side of the door means, said rodmeans including a first rod extended transversely adjacent the top ofthe opening, said first rod having opposite ends supported by the fixedmembers, and a second rod located generally parallel to the first rodand extended transversely adjacent the bottom of the opening, saidsecond rod having opposite ends supported by the fixed members, guidemeans slidably mounted on said first and second rods, means includingpivot means connecting the guide means to one side of the door meanswhereby said rods support said one side of the door means, said pivotmeans having an axis generally normal to the axis of the rods wherebythe door means can swing toward and away from the first and second rodsand move in the direction of the first and second rods, slide meanslocated adjacent said door means allowing lateral movement of the doormeans, rail means mounted on the structure and extended generallyparallel to the first and second rods, said rail means including a firstrail and a second rail extended generally parallel to the first rail,said slide means including a body located between the first and secondrails, arm means movably connecting the body to the first and secondrails, and link means attached to the other side of the door means toconnect the door means with the body whereby the rail means support theother side of the door means and, said link means allowing the doormeans to swing away from the first rod and the second rod whereby thedoor means can be moved along the first and second rods from the closedposition to the open position, said link means including a reversecurved member having an upright end pivotally mounted on the other sideof the door means and a downwardly directed end pivotally mounted on thebody.
 9. The closure means of claim 8 wherein: said means connecting thebody to the first and second rails includes sleeve bearings on the railsand arms connecting the sleeve bearings with the body.
 10. The closuremeans of claim 8 including: bracket means secured to the door means,said bracket means being attached to the pivot means.
 11. The closuremeans of claim 8 wherein: the guide means are linear bearings slidablymounted on the first rod and second rod.
 12. The closure means of claim8 including: means having space to accommodate the first rod and thesecond rod.
 13. The closure means of claim 12 wherein: the means havingspace are elongated channel members, said channel members being sized toaccommodate the first and second rods and guide means slidably mountedon the first and second rods.